2009 Winter Wanderlust Announced

Stunning photography, feats of endurance and stories of challenging travel to wild and remote places are featured at Winter Wanderlust, which begins its 22nd season on Wednesday, Jan. 7 at the Joseph F. Wheeler Theater in Fort Worden State Park.

These tales from afar will bring some light to cold, dark winter nights on eight Wednesdays, through February.

A journey to Chile's Patagonia coast begins the series on Jan. 7 at 7:30 p.m., when Port Townsend resident Tom Stammer and partner and photographer Bev McNeil present the subsistence life of those living on a tiny remote island in the Chiloe archipelago. Their images of agricultural and maritime life among the few island families are supplemented with their adventures by sea kayak to explore the wild and isolated coast.

Other Wanderlust programs this year feature a search for exotic plants in mountainous Asia, the unique life and wonderful creatures of the Galapagos, traversing the Gobi Desert by camel, a safari to Borneo's wild jungles and rivers, an ascent of China's unclimbed Yangmolong peak, traveling across America by horse and wagon, and walking Scotland coast to coast on the Southern Upland Way.

Jan. 7
Chile's Patagonia coast

Explore subsistence life on the tiny remote island of Anihue in the Chiloe archipelago, with added adventures by sea kayak on its wild and isolated coast, with Tom Stammer and Bev McNeil.

Jan. 14
Seeking Asia's exotic plants

View the rich botanical and cultural heritage of China's Yunnan and Sichuan provinces while tramping the mountains in search of new ornamental plants. This program is a light-hearted look at modern-day plant hunting with Kelly Dodson and Sue Milliken.

Jan. 21
Boobies, iguanas and albatross

Learn about the wonderful creatures of Ecuador's Galapagos Islands, their fascinating behaviors and adaptations to an isolated environment. Travel by boat and on foot through the varied terrain of these distant islands with Selden McKee.

Jan. 28
Gobi Desert by camel

Step back in time and travel across Mongolia's remote Gobi Desert on camelback, staying in nomadic ger (yurt) camps en route. Experience the complete silence of a world with no roads and no power with Juelie Dalzell.

Feb. 4
Borneo's wondrous wilderness

Journey on a family safari to the wild jungles and rivers of Borneo's Sabeh area. In a habitat of exotic wildlife and biodiversity, meet orangutans, gibbons, langurs, leopards, giant hornbills and pygmy elephants with Coke Smith.

Feb. 11
Climbing China's high mountains

Witness an attempt to summit the unclimbed peak of Yangmolong (19,800 feet) in the Tibetan region of Sichuan, Western China. Travel through areas now closed to foreigners after Tibetan demonstrations and before the recent earthquake with Richard Isherwood.

Feb. 18
Across America by horses and wagon

Travel by wagon more than 3,000 miles from New York to Montana. This program features the places and people of an 11-month journey through one of the coldest winters of the Midwest with Dave McWethy.

Feb. 25
Walking across Scotland coast to coast

View endless rain-soaked days hiking and slogging 200-plus miles through bogs, villages and local legends on the longest footpath in Scotland with Ron Strange.

A season's pass for the eight-program series costs $35 and is available at Sport Townsend, 1044 Water St., or at the door. Admission to single shows is by donation, $5 suggested or $1 for students. All shows start at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays at Joseph F. Wheeler Theater in Fort Worden State Park.

Proceeds from the Wanderlust series benefit two local nonprofit programs: Fort Worden's Olympic Hostel and the Jefferson Trails Coalition. Call 385-0655.